Bringing 24/7 Hot Food to an NHS Hospital

Refreshment Systems, working in partnership with Oakhouse Foods, installed a 24/7 hot food vending solution within an NHS hospital, giving staff access to convenient, quality meals at any time of the day or night.

For healthcare teams working long shifts, overnight hours and unsociable patterns, access to a hot meal can be limited once traditional catering facilities close. The aim of the project was simple: provide staff with a reliable way to access a proper hot meal whenever they needed one.

The Solution

Through our award-winning collaboration with Oakhouse Foods, RSL installed a dedicated hot food vending machine stocked with a selection of Oakhouse meals.

The solution allows hospital staff to choose a meal directly from the machine and heat it when required, providing a practical alternative to snacks, sandwiches or leaving the hospital site to find food.

RSL works closely with Oakhouse Foods franchisees across the UK, supporting the delivery and stocking of meals into the machines while managing the vending technology and ongoing service.

The Staff Response

One of the most positive parts of the installation was seeing the reaction from hospital staff.

Teams immediately recognised the benefit of being able to access a hot meal around the clock, particularly those working evening and night shifts when other food options can be limited.

Staff engagement with the machine demonstrated that the solution was meeting a genuine need. Rather than vending simply being viewed as a convenient snack option, the installation showed how it can form part of a wider staff wellbeing and catering offer.

The feedback and interaction we experienced reinforced the importance of providing greater choice for employees who keep NHS services running 24 hours a day.

The Result

The installation provides the hospital with a flexible, accessible hot food solution without the need to operate a staffed catering facility around the clock.

For RSL and Oakhouse Foods, the project is another example of how our award-winning collaboration can bring together food, technology and service to solve a real challenge within healthcare.

Most importantly, it gives NHS staff something straightforward but valuable: access to a hot meal whenever their shift allows them to take a break.

Customer Bio

This NHS hospital operates around the clock, with clinical and support teams working a wide range of shift patterns.

With staff requiring access to refreshments outside standard catering hours, the hospital was looking for a flexible solution that could provide more substantial meal options 24/7.

Working alongside Oakhouse Foods, Refreshment Systems introduced a hot food vending solution designed to improve accessibility, choice and convenience for hospital employees.